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Wage-earning employment of school children.
During the year 1932, 3,079 applications (3,046 boys and 33 girls) were dealt
with under the by-laws for medical certificates in connection with the employment
of school children out of school hours.
The nature of the work for which certificates were granted is shown below;
the first numbers are in respect of boys, the figures for girls being given in brackets:
delivery of milk, 267; delivery of newspapers, 1,775 (19); carrying or delivery
of goods or parcels, 442 (2); in or in connection with a shop, 219 (4); in a coal
yard, 4; industrial work at home, 1; house work away from home, 15 (4); as a
messenger, 51 (3); not stated, 24.
Certificates in respect of two or more occupations were granted to 139 boys.
In 145 cases the certificates were granted subject to medical treatment being
obtained, and in 86 additional cases other conditions were imposed. Certificates
were refused on medical grounds to 38 boys.
In regard to 6 boys, the provisional certificates were withdrawn on account
of non-compliance with the conditions under which the certificate was issued, and
the applications of 65 boys and 1 girl were not proceeded with.
School
children
employed in
entertainments.
The number of children examined under the regulations governing the employment
of children in entertainments was 610 (108 boys, 502 girls). One child, a girl, was
rejected on medical grounds—rheumatism. Eighty-seven children, were referred
for treatment in the first instance and given certificates of fitness at a subsequent
medical examination. The conditions requiring treatment were dental decay 54,
visual defect 16, throat condition 2, skin affection 6, personal hygiene 7, scoliosis 1,
and heart condition 1,
During the previous year only 281 children employed in entertainments were
examined, so that the work in this respect more than doubled during 1932. The
children are examined by the doctor on duty at the County Hall when they come to
obtain their licences, the majority of the examinations taking place just before the
pantomime season, i.e., towards the end of December.
Medical treatment.
The arrangements made by the Council for the medical and dental treatment of
school children have proceeded upon similar lines to those of the past few years.
There are 73 centres and 17 hospitals included in the Council's medical and
dental treatment scheme. In addition to these the special centre for in-patient
treatment of tonsils and adenoids at Woolwich, viz., the Cyril Henry centre, and
the dental centre for the residential children at the King's Canadian camp school,
Bushy Park, were continued during the year.